Cost of Living Comparison Between Shizuoka and Tokyo Cost of Living Comparison Between Shizuoka and Tokyo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,280 per month in Shizuoka vs $1,701 in Tokyo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,942 per month in Shizuoka vs $2,691 in Tokyo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,605 per month in Shizuoka vs $3,682 in Tokyo, rent included.

Shizuoka is about 25% cheaper than Tokyo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Shizuoka sits 4% below the global median, while Tokyo is 27% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.79 ¥1,103

$8.09 ¥1,315

-16.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.49 ¥5,605

$48.77 ¥7,926

-29.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.06 ¥823

$5.48 ¥891

-7.66%

Cappuccino

$3.49 ¥568

$3.60 ¥584

-3.06%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.06 ¥172

$1.27 ¥206

-16.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 ¥125

$0.86 ¥140

-10.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.11 ¥343

$4.08 ¥662

-48.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 ¥340

$5.44 ¥883

-61.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 ¥263

$1.62 ¥264

White Bread (500g)

$1.54 ¥250

$1.51 ¥245

1.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.25 ¥690

$5.34 ¥868

-20.41%

Eggs

$1.58 ¥257

$2.32 ¥377

-31.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.63 ¥1,727

$15.96 ¥2,594

-33.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.65 ¥1,081

$8.12 ¥1,319

-18.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.53 ¥2,525

$22.55 ¥3,665

-31.13%

Apples (1kg)

$5.44 ¥885

$5.52 ¥897

-1.45%

Banana (1kg)

$2.51 ¥408

$2.59 ¥421

-3.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.92 ¥637

$5.92 ¥962

-33.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.14 ¥672

$6.07 ¥987

-31.80%

Potato (1kg)

$2.90 ¥471

$3.24 ¥527

-10.49%

Onion (1kg)

$2.55 ¥415

$3.39 ¥551

-24.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.54 ¥250

$1.45 ¥235

6.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 ¥224

$0.87 ¥142

58.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.78 ¥776

$4.25 ¥691

12.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.82 ¥1,434

$9.31 ¥1,514

-5.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.05 ¥333

$2.05 ¥334

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 ¥553

$2.87 ¥466

18.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.05 ¥333

$1.48 ¥241

38.51%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.79 ¥3,704

$84.6 ¥13.8K

-73.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.19 ¥680

$3.38 ¥549

23.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.02 ¥328

$2.91 ¥473

-30.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.50 ¥3,332

$26.24 ¥4,265

-21.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ¥195

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$27.8K ¥4.5M

$23.6K ¥3.8M

17.92%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$17.6K ¥2.9M

$17.2K ¥2.8M

2.44%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$230 ¥37.4K

$168 ¥27.2K

37.27%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$16.69 ¥2,713

$25.82 ¥4,196

-35.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.95 ¥6,492

$33.50 ¥5,445

19.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$96.8 ¥15.7K

$70.9 ¥11.5K

36.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.10 ¥2,291

$20.25 ¥3,290

-30.37%

Cinema Ticket

$11.65 ¥1,894

$13.07 ¥2,125

-10.86%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$242 ¥39.3K

$495 ¥80.4K

-51.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.5K ¥2.2M

$15.7K ¥2.6M

-14.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.11 ¥7,332

$61.5 ¥10.0K

-26.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.19 ¥4,744

$41.66 ¥6,771

-29.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.2 ¥11.1K

$65.9 ¥10.7K

3.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$97.4 ¥15.8K

$91.1 ¥14.8K

6.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$383 ¥62.2K

$1,120 ¥182.0K

-65.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$280 ¥45.5K

$606 ¥98.6K

-53.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$659 ¥107.1K

$2,680 ¥435.6K

-75.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$569 ¥92.5K

$1,342 ¥218.0K

-57.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,382 ¥712.2K

$10.4K ¥1.7M

-57.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,093 ¥340.2K

$4,986 ¥810.3K

-58.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,126 ¥345.5K

$2,330 ¥378.6K

-8.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.72

-41.86%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Shizuoka: July 12, 2026

Last update for Tokyo: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $383 in Shizuoka versus $1,120 in Tokyo. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 10% higher in Tokyo, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Shizuoka versus $49.00 in Tokyo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $316 vs $383 – making Shizuoka the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Shizuoka vs Tokyo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Tokyo is pricier by about 33%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,920 per month in Shizuoka and $2,552 in Tokyo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Shizuoka, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 21% more in Tokyo, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Shizuoka and $49.00 in Tokyo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Shizuoka, where all-in costs run around $1,280, than in Tokyo at $1,701. In Shizuoka it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tokyo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Shizuoka – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Shizuoka. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tokyo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.